Mixing and drying apparatus



Nov. 18, 1941. SAMU-EL lSH -SHALOM 2,262,940

MIXING AND DRYING APPARATUS I Filed Aug; 7, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FIE-.2 SAMU-EL ISH-SHALOM Nov. 18, 1941. SAMU-EL [SH-SHALOM 2,262,940

MIXING AND DRYING- APPARATUS Filed Aug. '7, 1940 7 Sheet-Sheet-CS INVENTOR. SAMU-EL lSH-SHALOM aiforrz ey Nov. 18, 1941.

SAMU- EL ISH-SHALOM MIXING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. '7, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Illlll INVENTOR. SAMU-EL ISH -SHALOM FIG. 6

1941- SAMU-EL ISH-SHALOM MIXING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 7, 1940 7 ShGGtS-ShBGt 6 FIE. jg v- 76 f9 g I a "1 86' Y a v 8 7 I 1 INVENTOR.

'SAMU-EL ISH r SHALOM dziorlzjy NOV. 18, 1941. sA u- 5 -s o 2,262,940

MIXING AND DRYING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 7, 1940 PIE. 7?,

I INVENTOR SAMU-EL ISH -SHALOM FIG. 76,

1-75-14 FIG. i5,

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIXING AND DRYING APPARATUS Samu-El Ish-Shalom, Brooklyn, -.N. Y. Application August 7, 1940, Serial No. 351,691

4.Claims. (Cl. 259-4) This invention relates to mixers, dryers, sterilizers or similar devices provided with a mixing chamber wherein a plurality of powdered materials such as for example, are employed in the manufacture of cosmetics, are delivered in a stream of air directed into the chamber having two or more passages to thereby revolve or swirl such materials at great speed and under great compressional energy to both dry and thoroughly mix the same. Examples of the type of machine to which the invention relates will be found in my Patents Nos. 2,193,0(11- to 2,193,005 inclusive. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide in a machine of the character described a single air inlet through which a stream of compressed air is projected, saidinlet communicating with the interior of a mixing chamber of such formation that parts thereof tend to divide the stream of air and direct portions of it in opposite directions with swirling movement to thereby whirl the materials delivered into the chamber and thoroughly mix and dry the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the character mentioned, means by which the divided'air stream and the mate- 'rials transported by it, will be directed toward provide means by which the air stream dividingelement may be replaced or modified to produce the desired stream dividing function accordin to various requirements. It is a further object of the invention to provide means for controlling the air flow into the mixing chamber by the utilization of a valve within the mixing chamber controlling the flow through an air inlet nozzle also therein located.

It is a further object of theinvention that the improved apparatus be of simple construction and easy to clean and maintain in a sanitary condition and wherein the various parts are conveniently adjustable to procure eflicient operation and are readily accessible for inspection,

cleaning and adjustment.

' In the accompanying drawings wherein several illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a'machine constructed in accordance with the invention, with parts being broken away to disclose construction; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame: Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, of the lower end of one of the hoppers showing the mechanism for agitating the material delivered therefrom; Fig. 4 is a front view with parts in section of the mixing chamber and collection receptacle; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine showing how the top or cover of the mixing chamber and the exhaust pipes attached thereto may be swung open to uncover the mixing chamber; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through one form of mixing. chamber; Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the lower end of one of the hoppers showing a means for feeding the material out of the hopper by the use of compressed air; Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through a modified form of mixing chamber; Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 1115 a horizontal sectional view through another modified form of mixing chamber; Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 13 is a sectional view through a portion of the mixing chamber showing an adjustable air nozzle or jet and Figs. 14 to inclusive are similar sectional views through the disposed a housing 3 secured to the bas I and containing a collection receptacle 4 (Fig. 4) into which the mixed materials fall after having been properly mixed. Hinged doors 5 at the front of the machine provide access to the collection receptacle permitting its removal for emptying and v subsequent replacement.

Supported upon the posts 2 is the mixing chamber, shown in detail in Figs. 4 and -5, the same including the base plate 6 attached to the top of the housing 3 and also supported by the posts 2. The mixing chamber is provided with indicated in Fig. 6 when access to the interior of the mixing chamber for cleaning or for other purposes, is desired.

The mixing chamber is provided with the two passages l8 and II within which air streams designated at l2 and I9 are. respectively swirled to thereby whirlmaterials to be mixed and dried as will be hereinafter pointed out.- The two passages l8 and II of the mixing chamber merge at a central point in the chamber and at this point an air inlet or nozzle l4 enters the chamber and directs air under pressure as well as materials to be mixed, into the chamber.

chamber results.

Preferably formed as a part of the inner surface of the side wall 1 of the mixing chamber and located diametrically opposite to the inlet nozzle I4 is a wedge-shaped air-flow-dividing member l8 so disposed in front of the inlet opening that the air flow emanating therefrom will impinge against it and be divided into separate streams, one of which will swirl clockwisely in the passage l8 as indicated at [3, while the other air stream will swirl counterclockwisely in the passage II as indicated at I2 in Fig. 5. It will be obvious that materials delivered into the passages l8 and H of the mixing chamber will be whirled about within the chamber by the air streams l2 and I3, these streams and the materials transported thereby merging with the air flow emanating from the inlet nozzle l4, as indicated at I] --and being again impinged against the wedge-shaped,element 18 to again become dividing into streams l2 and 13.

Each of the mixingchamber passages I8 and H is provided with a central opening I 8 surrounded by an upstanding wall l9, the mixed material falling down through these openings and into the collection receptacle 4 as hereinafter described.

Secured to the cover 8 are spaced housings 28 and 2|, each of which surrounds an air exhaust pipe 22, the lower end of each exhaust pipe extending into one ofthe openings I8 but spaced from the wall I9 surrounding. the same so that an annular space 24 is provided between each exhaust pipe and wall l9 through which the mixed materials 'may descend to reach the collection receptacle.

'Pipes 22 are connected at their upper ends by the manifold pipe 25 secured to vertically extending pipe 28 connected by coupling 29 to rearwardly extending-pipe 28 leading to a suitable point of exhaust. Pipe 28 is supported or hung from a supporting member 29 connected by a union 38 with across rod 3| attached at its opposite ends to elbows 32 secured on the upper ends of posts or standards 33 having their lower ends mounted in pipeflanges 94 bolted to the base I.

As will be seen from Fig. 6, the inside of the ing by swinging the lid or top 8 of the mixing chamber forwardly on its hinges 9 as shown in Fig. 8. To do this, the coupling '21 is first disconnected and (then the lid or cover and piping from are four posts M which support the base 42 of the material-supply means or hoppers 43 and 44. Since both of the hoppers and the mechanism for operation of the same are alike, a ,description ,of the mechanism of hopper will suii'ice. It comprises an upper portion 45 provided with a removable lid 48 through which the hopper is filled with the powdered material to be mixed. A conical portion 41 at the lower end of the portion 45 delivers the materials by gravity into the tubular portion 48. Operative in the tubular portion 48 is a vertically disposed shaft 49 (Fig. 3) provided with wings or paddles 58, which when the shaft is rotated, serve to agitate the materials and prevent piling up or clogging in the portion 48 of the hopper. Shaft 49- is rotatively mounted in bearing 5i and carries a beveled gear 52 at its lower end, said gear meshing with beveled gear53 secured on the shaft 54 rotatlvely mounted in the bearings 55 and driven by reducing gearing contained in the gear box 58. The belt 51 extending around pulley 58 on the shaft of electric motor 59 drives pulley 88a on shaft 8Ia of the reducing gearing in the manner clearly disclosed in Fig. 3. The

base 88 of the motor is secured upon the plate hoppers is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the inlet pipe 1 mlxing chamber is readily accessible for clean- 25 and 28 attached thereto may be swung forward. When the cover or-lid is swung forward in the manner descrlbed,it is supported in such open position, on a cross bar 35 secured to elbows 48 as seen in Fig. 2. Shaft 54 extends across the machine to drive the agitating mechanism of hopper 43 in the manner described in respect to hopper 44.

Entering into the lower part of the hopper portion 48 is an air-delivery pipe 8| through which air under pressure is delivered into the part 49 and the air so delivered, forces the materials continuously out of the hopper through pipe I5 and out through nozzle l4 and thus into the mixing chamber. As an alternative for such an arrangement, outlet pipes leading from the two hoppers may each be connected at any suitable point intoone of the sections I8 or II of the mixing chamber. Another modification of the means for feeding the materials from the GI enters the part 48 of the hopper and extends into the end of a funnel-shaped member 82 which has its smaller end entering into the large end of funnel 83 that communicates in a similar manner with funnel 84 leading into funnel 85 connecting to pipe 88 connecting either to pipe I4 or else leading directly into one of the sections I8 or II of the mixing chamber. Various other arrangements may be utilized to insure regular feeding of the materials into the'mixlng chamber.

Briefly, the operation of follows:

Motor 59 is set in operation and this agitates the materials in the hoppers and 44. The flow of compressed air blows the materials in the chamber, the materials and air flow enthe machine is as tering therein through nozzle l4. The air flow and materials conveyed thereby are split into j separate streams by impingement against the wedge-shaped element I 8 and the two air streams l2 and 13 swirl around theannular chamber sections l8 and II carrying the materials and thoroughly mixing the same in the manner heretofore explained.' As the materials are whirled. around the mixing chamber they mount over the upper edge of the walls l9 and fall down through the openings'" defined by said walls and drop into the collection receptacle 4. The air exhausts upwardly through pipes 22. Since the compressed air is warm it tends to dry the materials as it mixes them; and such drying action is important, particularly in cases oi 'finely divided materials which, upon accumulation of moisture, tend to lump, harden and cake and make'thorough mixing therefore diii'lcult. The action of the compressed air, as it whirls the materials around the chamber is first to dry the materials, causing lumps and caking to become loosened, and then, as the whirling action shown at I8, 'II, I2 and I3. An inlet passage ll.

through which air under pressure as well as the materials to be mixed, is forced, enters into the manifold IS in which the air flow is divided into the streams I8 and TI. The stream I8 flows into the chamber composed of the channels I8 and II where it is split up or divided by the wedgeshaped element I8 and caused to -whirl in two separate streams through channels 18 and II as explained in reference to the structure of Fig. 5. The air stream 11 flows in like manner into the chamber composed of the channels I2 and I3 where it operates in a manner similar to that described in respect to channels I8 and 1|. The mixing chamber shown in Fig. 9 and also in section in Fig. 10 hasithe channels I8 to 13 inclusive formed with inclined surfaces 18 and .18 at the bottom, this serving to avoid the accumulation of materials in the comers or junctions of the side walls and bottom, as sometimes occurs with certain materials in cases where a flat bottom is employed in the mixing chamber. While I have shown in the several embodiments of the invention, the channels in each mixing chamber as being of the same dlameter, it will be clear that this is not absolutely necessary since one channel may under special circumstances be 01 greater capacity and of diiierent size or diameter than the other. The shape of eachchannel may also be varied as for example, they may behexagon, oval or octagon or of other suitable shape.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11 the mixing chamber is made up of three groups otchannels, each group consisting of two channels. The air and material inlet shown at 88 enters into the manifold passage BI and from there passes through the three passages 82, 83 and 88, each of said passages leading into one of the groups of channels. For example, the passage 84 enters at a point between the channels 85 and 88 and the flow of air through said passage is split by the wedge-shaped element l8. Similarly, passage 82 enters into the group composed of channels 81 and 88, while the flow from passage 83.

enters into the group composed of channels 89 and 88. The action of the air flow in each group of channels is as disclosed in respect to the structure shown in Fig. 5. In addition, I have shown in Fig. 11, the utilization of heating elements 82 located in the spaces 83 between the various sections of the heating chamber, the

' purpose of such heating elements being to heat the compressed air so that it materially aids in heating means can be either used or omitted, dependent upon the materials being mixed.

While I have thus far described the wedgeshaped air separating element I8 as being an integral part of the wall portion of the mixing chamber, this need not necessarily be the case, since after considerable use, the impingement of air under pressure and the material transported thereby may tend to wear away the wedgeshaped separating element thus altering its shape and requiring its replacement. In Fig. 7 is suggested a manner in which the wedge-shaped element I6 may be removed and replaced. Therein said element is shown as provided with a dove-tailed rib 85 fitted into a complementary groove in the wall of the mixing chamber. With this arrangement, the wedge-shaped element may be readily removed and replaced with one of similar or any other shape when desired. Similarly the air inlet nozzle 98, instead of being an integral element formed on the mixin chamber, may be removable and replaceable as shown in Fig. I.

In Figs. 13 to 20 inclusive is shown an arrangement by which the amount of air directed into the mixing chamber may be regulated to secure various results in mixing. Therein, the air and possibly the material supp y is connected to a vertically disposed nozzle 88, having a number of ports in its side wall, three of said ports being shown at I88, IN and I82 and arranged one above the other. A valve member or sleeve I83 closely fits around the nozzle 98 and is normally held in any selected position by means of the screw I88 which extends through the ,washer I85 and' gasket I88. A gasket I28 is also employed at the-"lower end of the valve. The sleeve or valve I83 is provided with a number of holes, one of which is shown at N1 in Fig. l-i and is so located that when it is in alignment with hole I88 in the nozzle 88, holes IM and I82 in said nozzle are shut oil by the body of the valve. Valve I83 also has a hole I88 which is adapted on rotative movement of the valve to be aligned with the hole III while the valve shuts off'the holes I88 and I82.. Similarly, hole I89.in the valve may be aligned with hole I 82 inthe nozzle, while holes I88and I8I are.

shut off. Valve I83 is also provided with the two holes 8 and III, properly spaced to simultanewith the valve I83 for respective simultaneous alignment with the holes "I and I82, as shown in Fig. 18, while hole I88 is shut ofi. In Fig. 19

it will be seen that the valve I83 also has a pair of holes, indicated at Ill and 5 for simultaneous alignment with the holes I88 and I82 while the drying of the materials to. be mixed. Such hole IN is shut off, and in Fig. 20 the valve isshown provided with the three holes I I8, I I1 and H8 for simultaneous alignment with the three holes I88, IM and -I82 in the nozzle. With the.

several arrangements shown, and other possible arrangements of the valve openings in respect to the nozzle openings, it will be apparent that many variations of the inlet openings. may be had through which the air under pressure, the

materials to be mixed or both may be ejected into the mixing chamber. The holes in the-valve may also, ii! desired, be or smaller diameter than those in the nozzle, or some or the holes in the valve may be larger than the others therein whereby great flexibility inregulation oi the air flow is attained.

While I have, shown several embodiments of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad'enough cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

, What I claim is: v

1. Ina mixing machine for' powdered materials, a mixing chamber having a plurality of pairs of annular merging channels in the same horizontal plane through which air under pressure and materials to be mixed are swirled. each pair of said channels having an air inlet through which air under pressure continuously enters, means disposed between the channels in each pair for diverting air streams into said channels and causing, said streams to merge with the air flow from the inlet at the point of joinder of the channels in each pair, means within and surrounded by each channel from which mixed powdered materials are continuously delivered from the chamber while the air inlet is continuously feeding air and unmixed powdered materials into the chamber, a manifold connection between the air inlets and a single source 01. air under presprovided with a row of openings, and means for selectively closing any of said openings without changing the angle of air injection into the chamber.

3. In a mixing machine for powdered materials, a mixing chamber having a plurality of pairs of merging annular channels in the same horizontal plane and through which air under pressure and materials to be mixed are swirled, each pair of said channels having an air inlet through which air under pressure continuously enters, means disposed between the channels in each pair for diverting air streams into said channels and causing said streams to merge with the air flow from the inlet at the point of joinder of the channels in each pair and means within and surrounded by each channel from whichmixed powdered materials are continuously delivered from the chamber while the air inlet is continuously feeding air and unmixed powdered materials into the chamber.

i. In a mixing machine for, powdered materials, a mixing chamber having several annular air channels in which air under pressure and materials to be mixed are swirled, and air inlets having means for selectively closing any of them entering into the chamber at a point between said channels, said channels merging adjacent said air inlets whereby streams of air swirled 'in the channels will merge with the air flow from the air inlets.

SAMU-EL ISH-SHALOM. 

